KOLLAM: The chase by two girl students of St. John’s High School, Eravipuram, in Kollam district, in search of the reason behind the difference in taste of the water their classmates bring has led to the discovery of the presence of harmful coliform bacteria in the wells in the area. E. Amina and R. Abhirami of Standard X collected samples from over 100 wells and bore-wells in the coastal Eravipuram area in the last three months and found that 90 per cent of the samples was contaminated with coliform bacteria beyond permissible limits.
"We conducted surveys with questionnaires and collected samples from Vadakkumbhagom, Thekkumbhagom, Vallakadavu and Kunnathukadavu wards in Eravipuram," Ms Amina and Ms Abhirami told DC. The students tested the water with kits the Parent Teacher Association provided them and found that nine out of 10 samples had coliform bacteria above permissible limits. Only 13 of the 100 samples showed the neutral pH of 7 while 48 samples were acidic and the rest, alkaline. "The PTA and the headmaster C. Pious also came forward to facilitate the tests," said N. Edward, the class teacher who helped the students conduct the survey and tests. The PTA spent '7,000 on the testing kits."
The continued use of contaminated water could result in in kidney failure and diarrhea, he pointed out. The students later conducted an awareness drive in the households on the ways to eradicate the bacteria using potassium permanganate and bleaching powder. They told the residents about the need to dig septic tanks at least seven metres from water sources. "The presence of coliform ?bacteria in drinking water is due to the leakage from septic tanks," Kollam district medical officer Dr R. Sandhya told DC. "In coastal areas, the loose soil structure causes the bacteria to spread even if the wells are at safer distance of seven meters from septic tanks. We advise weekly chlorination of water to overcome the threat of contamination."
